A new species of haploporid (Digenea) from the South China Sea

Megasolena dongzhaiensis n. sp. was collected from the intestine of Scatophagus argus (Linnaeus) (Perciformes: Scatophagidae) from the Dongzhai Bay (110 degrees 32'-37'E, 19 degrees 51'-20 degrees 1'N), Hainan Province, China. It resembles Megasolena acanthuri Machida and Uchida, 1991 in having larger body size, but it differs from the latter species in having an oral sucker that is larger, instead of smaller, than the acetabulum (sucker length ratio 1:0.456-0.494, and width ratio 1:0.61-0.65 in M. dongzhaiensis n. sp., as opposed to 1:1.3-1.7 in M. acanthuri). Moreover, the cuticle is spinose rather than aspinose; there is a band of circular muscle in the pharynx, and its eggs are smaller instead of larger (0.062-0.068 x 0.036-0.039 in M. dongzhaiensis n. sp., compared with 0.087-0.103 x 0.058-0.072 in M. acanthuri). Finally, the intestinal bifurcation is anterior, instead of dorsal, to the acetabulum. It resembles other species of Megasolena Linton, 1910 in having oral sucker larger than the acetabulum, and in having a circular muscle band in the oral sucker and pharynx, but it differs in having a larger body and smaller eggs. This is the first record of a Megasolena species from ray-finned fishes as well as in China.     

A new genus and species of opisthogonimid (Digenea) of Liophis anomalus (Serpentes: Colubridae) from Uruguay

During a study on the helminth fauna of Liophis anomalus specimens deposited in the Reptile Collection of the Secci6n Zoología Vertebrados, Facultad de Ciencias, Uruguay, a new genus of Opisthogoniminae was found. Paracotyletrema n. gen. is described from the buccal cavity and esophagus of specimens from Departamento de Flores, Uruguay. This new genus differs from the other 2 Opisthogoniminae, Opisthogonimus and Westella, by having much smaller body size; maximum width at level of posterior end of oral sucker; oral sucker length more than one-fourth of body length; oral sucker and acetabulum separated by a distance of about the diameter of pharynx; cirrus pouch length more than half of body length; and testes in completely coincident zones. The type and only species, Paracotyletrema poncedeleoni n. gen., n. sp., is defined by the following diagnostic characters: mean oral sucker length one-third to one-half of body length; cirrus pouch of about body length, contorted, mainly acetabular; large, round testes in nearly adjacent fields, and an ovary nearly adjacent to right testis. Besides the type locality, Paracotyletrema poncedeleoni has been found in L. anomalus specimens from the Departamentos of Artigas and Treinta y Tres; therefore, it has a widespread distribution in Uruguay.     

Mesocoelium malayanum sp. n. (Digenea: Brachycoeliidae) in a frog, Rana macrodon Dumeril and Bibron 1941, from Malaysia

Mesocoelium malayanum sp. n. is described from the frog Rana macrodon, in Malaysia. Elongate body, broader anteriorly, measuring 1.900 (1.679-2.070) mm long by 0.404 (0.380-0.437) wide, tegument aspinose oral sucker 0.212 (0.200-0.228) by 0.202 (9.191-0.205), acetabulum 0.141 (0.132-0.150) by 0.139 (0.123-0.146), prepharynx present, oesophagus 0.115 (0.096-0.137), caeca reaching posterior 1/3 of body, anterior testis 0.097 (0.087-0.110) by 0.091 (0.087-0.100) dorsal to acetabulum, posterior testis 0.094 (0.087-0.101) by 0.092 (0.091-0.100), cirrus pouch 0.121 (0.111-0.130) by 0.047 (0.041-0.055), genital pore at left of midline of oesophagus just anterior to intestinal bifurcation, ovary 0.110 (0.091-0.127) by 0.089 (0.085-0.096) on left of body and posterior to acetabulum, vitelline glands with single follicles extending from intestinal bifurcation to ends of caeca, excretory vesicle I-shaped and eggs 0.040 (0.037-0.046) by 0.023 (0.022-0.024). Although morphologically related to M. maroccanum and M. meggitti, M. malayanum is considered to be a new species.     

Description of Brachylecithum mackoi n. sp. (Digenea: Dicrocoeliidae) from the European hedgehog, Erinaceus europaeus (Insectivora: Erinaceidae)

A new hepatic dicrocoeliid species, Brachylecithum mackoi n. sp. (Digenea, Dicrocoeliidae), is described from the European hedgehog, Erinaceus europaeus (L.) (Insectivora, Erinaceidae). An infected host was found in the Mediterranean island of Elba (Italy), and more than 60 individuals were isolated from the biliary ducts. The holotype and 55 paratypes were examined. Brachylecithum mackoi n. sp. differs from congeneric species found in mammal hosts by having well-developed lappets in the ventral sucker, a sloping uterus between anterior testis and acetabulum, no overlap between vitellaria, and metrical features in the body size, sucker diameters, cirrus sac, and size of eggs. The only other Brachylecithum species of erinaceids in Europe and Africa, Brachylecithum aetechini Dollfus, 1951, differs from the new species in the above-mentioned morphological characters, greater dimensions of the body, and oral sucker, pharynx, cirrus sac, and egg dimensions. The presence of B. mackoi n. sp. in Elba Island is discussed in the light of apparent host specificity of erinaceid dicrocoeliids and geographical distribution of Palearctic and Ethiopian Erinaceidae.     

Two new species of Enenterum Linton, 1910 (Digenea) in the marine fish Neoscorpis lithophilus (Kyphosidae) from the south-western Indian Ocean

Enenterum elsti sp. nov. and E. prudhoei sp. nov. are described from the intestine of Neoscorpis lithophilus off Mapelane, Natal, South Africa. These species differ from others of the genus Enenterum in the ratio of oral sucker to body-length and in the length of the prepharynx. E. elsti differs from E. prudhoei in size, in sucker-ratio and in the number and configuration of the oral lobes. A key to the species of Enenterum is presented and the status of the genus briefly discussed.     

Deurithitrema gingae n.g., n.sp. (Digenea: Plagiorchioidea) from the kidneys of a salt-water crocodile (Crocodylus porosus Schneider) from Australia

Summary The name Deurithitrema gingae n. g., n. sp. is proposed for worms from the kidneys of one Crocodylus porosus from Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia. The following combination of characters distinguishes the new genus from all others: prepharynx very short; oesophagus absent; caeca reaching to posterior end of body; testes tandem in middle third of body, contiguous or amost so; cirrus-sac large, over-reaches ventral sucker, contains bipartite seminal vesicle, prostatic regions and ejaculatory duct with spines around its opening into genital atrium; genital pore immediately in front of ventral sucker; uterus coiled to posterior end of body; vitellaria lateral from ventral sucker to slightly behind testes; excretory vesicle small, receiving a single ventro-lateral duct from each side behind end of uterine loops. Deurithitrema belongs to the superfamily Plagiorchioidea Dollfus, 1930. It superficially resembles a number of genera, but its relationships within the superfamily are obscure.     

New trematode genera from fishes of the southern Atlantic

Two new genera of the lepocreadiid trematodes, Gibsonia gen. n., (type species--G. hastata sp. n.) from Macrourus carinatus Günther, 1878 (Macrouridae), collected in the Falkland Islands area, and Muraenolepitrema gen. n. (type species--M. magnatestis sp. n.) from Muraenolepis microps L?nnberg, 1905 (Muraenolepidae), collected in the South Georgia Island area, are described. Gibsonia gen. n. differs from all known genera of the family Lepocreadiidae by unusual body shape divided into 2 parts, suctorial formations, great number of glandular cells and a muscular bulge of the body sides; it differs from the closely related genus Lepidapedon by separate genital pores. Muraenolepitrema gen. n. differs from Myzoxenus by bursa shape, separate genital pores, lobed shape of genital organs.     

Description of Dendrorchis retrobiloba n. sp. (Digenea: Gorgoderidae) from Astyanax fasciatus (Teleostei: Characidae) from Southern Uruguay, with an emended diagnosis of the genus Dendrorchis

To date, the monospecific Dendrorchis is represented by D. neivai, reported from Brazil and parasitizing Brycon lundi. Dendrorchis retrobiloba n. sp. is described from the swim bladder of Astyanax fasciatus from Ca?ada del Dragón stream in Montevideo, southern Uruguay (34 degrees 47'S, 56 degrees 14'W), and the emended diagnosis of Dendrorchis is given. The diagnosis of Dendrorchis has been modified to include the following characters: Phyllodistominae with flattened body, wider in the region posterior to acetabulum. Intestinal ceca sinuous or not. Testes branched or with superficial lobes. Ovary with deep or superficial lobes. Seminal receptacle present or absent. Vitellaria ellongate or pyriform. Uterus extends to posterior region and to portion of body anterior to acetabulum. Eggs oval, variable size, thin-shelled, without opercula. Dendrorchis retrobiloba n. sp. differs from D. neivai by having pyriform vitellaria, ovary larger than the testes and not deeply lobed, wider distribution of the uterus, smaller egg size, testes with superficial lobes, oral sucker wider than the acetabulum, shorter esophagus, 2 terminal lobes at the posterior end of the body, and much smaller body length. Despite being found in different hosts, both species of Dendrorchis parasitize the swim bladder of freshwater Characidae.     

The attachment of Clinostomum sp. (Digenea,Clinostomidae) to the oesophagus of the bird Ardea cocoi (Aves,Ardeidae)

The attachment of Clinostomum sp. to the oesophagus of the bird definitive host Ardea cocoi is reported. The parasite attaches to the mucous layer of the oesophagus by the acetabulum, oral sucker, and oral collar. The mucous layer of the oesophagus engulfed by the oral sucker presents an intense liquefactive necrosis, and the engulfment is not likely to contribute significantly to the attachment of the parasite. The oral collar of the parasite, surrounding the oral sucker, is juxtaposed to the oesophagus mucous layer, showing a perfect fitting of both surfaces. It is concluded that the main attachment mechanism of the parasites to the oesophagus of the host is provided by the acetabulum and by the juxtaposition of the oral collar of the parasites to the oesophagus host surface.     

Two new genera,shape Provitellus and shape Ovipusillus,and four new species of Monorchiidae (Digenea) from carangid fishes of Queensland,Australia

Two new genera and four new species of monorchiid digeneans are described from the Great Barrier Reef and Moreton Bay, Queensland. Provitellus turrum n. g., n. sp. from Pseudocaranx dentex and Trachinotus coppingeri is characterised by the presence of vitelline follicles in the forebody, a single testis, a unipartite terminal organ and filamented eggs. Ovipusillus mayu n. g., n. sp. from Gnathanodon speciosus is characterised by the presence of two testes, vitelline follicles overlapping the ventral sucker and a large, complex cirrus-sac that contains a coiled eversible ejaculatory duct joined by the pars prostatica halfway along its length. Paramonorcheides pseudocaranxi n. sp. from Pseudocaranx dentex differs from other species described in this genus in the longer flatter forebody, entire ovary and the well-developed cirrus-sac. Chrisomon gaigai n. sp. from Trachinotus coppingeri and T. botla is characterised by the unflattened forebody and transversely oval pharynx. Chrisomon is redefined to include species of Lasiotocus with a vitellarium composed of clusters of tubular acini, creating the following new combinations: C. albulae n. comb. for L. albulae Overstreet, 1969, C. ulua n. comb. for L. ulua Yamaguti, 1970 and C. weke n. comb. for L. weke Yamaguti, 1970. The diagnosis of Lasiotocus is amended accordingly and the new combinations, L. polynemi n. comb. and L. sunderbanensis n. comb., are created for C. polynemi Dutta, Hafeezullah & Manna, 1994 and C. sunderbanensis Dutta, Hafeezullah & Manna, 1994, respectively. Extrapolation of our collection data suggests that there may be as many as 80 species of monorchiids infecting carangid fishes in Australia and 180 species infecting carangids in all oceans of the world. The latter figure greatly exceeds the number of monorchiids described from all host families to     

A new pronocephalid, Pleurogonius tortugueroi n. sp. (Digenea), from the intestine of green sea turtles (Chelonia mydas) in Costa Rica

A new species of trematode, Pleurogonius tortugueroi n. sp. (Digenea: Pronocephalidae) is described from the lower intestine of green sea turtles (Chelonia mydas) from Tortuguero National Park, Costa Rica. The new species differs from all other species of Pleurogonius by having a short oesophagus and oval testes close to lateral posterior limit of the body. It differs from all other species, except P. malaclemys Hunter 1961, by having an ovary between the testes; moreover the latter species is a parasite of freshwater turtles. All others members of the genus have a long oesophagus, testes placed to some distance from the posterior end, and the ovary is pretesticular. The new species appears most closely related to P. linearis Looss, 1901 but differs from it by having a different body shape, lappets of the head collar close at the cecal bifurcation level, a longer vitellarian field, different testis shape and position, ovary intertesticular, and different egg size.     

Lepidapedon spp. (Digenea: Lepocreadiidae) from deep-sea gadiform fishes of the NW Atlantic Ocean,including four new species

Five species are described from fishes in deep waters of the northwestern Atlantic Ocean: Lepidapedon gaevskayae n. sp. from Coryphaenoides (Nematonurus) armatus; L. merretti n. sp. from Phycis chesteri; L. zubchenkoi n. sp. from Coryphaenoides (Chalinura) leptolepis; L. beveridgei n. sp. from C. (N.) armatus; and Lepidapedon sp. innom. from Antimora rostrata. The genus Lepidapedon is discussed and divided into groups of species distinguished by the vitelline distribution and the extent of excretory vesicle. The new species are placed in their appropriate groups and differentiated from the other species in the group.     

Auriculostoma astyanace n. gen., n. sp. (Digenea: Allocreadiidae), from the banded astyanax, Astyanax fasciatus (Characiformes: Characidae), from Nicaragua, with a reevaluation of neotropical Crepidostomum spp

Auriculostoma n. gen. (Trematoda: Allocreadiidae) is proposed for Auriculostoma astyanace n. sp. from the intestine of the characid fish Astyanax fasciatus in the Atlantic coastal drainages of Nicaragua. The new genus differs from all papillose allocreadiid genera, except Bunoderella, in possessing 2 pairs of muscular oral papillae (instead of 1 or 3), of which the ventrolateral pair is moderately developed and the dorsolateral papillae are long and auricular. Auriculostoma differs from Bunoderella Schell, 1964, in having lateral vitelline follicles, completely separated or confluent only in the posttesticular region, a uterus limited to the pretesticular region or with a few eggs at the level of the testes, and a long cirrus sac that overlaps the acetabulum or usually reaches posteriorly to the ovarian level. Three other allocreadiid species, all from South American freshwater fishes and each of which had previously been placed in Crepidostomum, are transferred to Auriculostoma based on the presence of the diagnostic muscular oral papillae. These include Crepidostomum platense Szidat, 1954, C. macrorchis Szidat, 1954, and C. stenopteri Ma?é-Garzón and Gascón, 1973. Diagnostic features for Auriculostoma also include mainly pretesticular uterus, lateral vitellaria with variation in posttesticular confluence, and tandem testes. The genus appears to be typically associated with neotropical siluriforms (catfishes) and characiforms (tetras).     

Forticulcita glabra gen. et sp. n. (Digenea, Haploporidae) in a Red Sea Mullet

The genus Forticulcita was established solely for F. glabra sp. n. from Valamugil seheli (Forsskål) in the Gulf of Aqaba. Most closely related to Haploporus , it is diagnosed primarily by having a species with an acetabulum being conspicuously robust, prepharynx measuring shorter than the pharynx, ceca terminating at the testicular level, muscular hermaphroditic ejaculatory organ lacking accessory structures, and vitellarium consisting of a single mass.     

A new genus and species of cryptogonimid from Lutjanus spp. (Pisces: Lutjanidae) on the Great Barrier Reef and New Caledonia

Lobosorchis tibaldiae n. gen. and n. sp. (Digenea: Cryptogonimidae) is described from the intestine, pyloric ceca, and rectum of 2 species of Lutjanus (Pisces: Lutjanidae), Lutjanus carponotatus and Lutjanus fulviflamma, from the Great Barrier Reef, Queensland, Australia, and New Caledonia. The genus is tentatively placed in the Neochasminae and is distinguished within the Cryptogonimidae by the combination of follicular testes, oral spines, and vitelline follicles restricted to the anterior region of the body not extending posteriorly to the ventral sucker.     

Coryphogonimus aglaos n. g., n. sp. (Digenea: Prosthogonimidae) from the Australian bush rat,Rattus fuscipes (Rodentia: Muridae), with notes on other prosthogonimids from Australian mammals

Coryphogonimus aglaos n. g., n. sp. (Digenea: Prosthogonimidae) is described from the liver of the Australian bush rat, Rattus fuscipes (Rodentia: Muridae). The new genus is distinguished from other prosthogonimids by the possession of the following combination of characters: oral and ventral suckers well developed; caeca terminating in front of testes; genital pore opening dorsal to oral sucker; vitelline follicles restricted to caecal region; uterus extending posterior to testes; and uterus without an egg reservoir. A single specimen of an as yet undetermined Coryphogonimus species is recorded from the Australian water rat, Hydromys chrysogaster (Rodentia: Muridae). A new host, Sminthopsis macroura (Marsupialia: Dasyuridae), is recorded for Coelomotrema antechinomes. Attention is drawn to the apparent rarity of the six known mammal prosthogonimids.     

Revision of Bursacetabulus (Diplostomidae: Diplostominae) with the proposal of Bursatintinnabulus n. gen., and description of Bursatintinnabus bassanus n. sp. and Bursacetabulus morus n. sp. from northern gannet, Morus bassanus (Aves), from the Texas gulf coast.

During a study of digeneans of shorebirds from the Texas gulf coast, 2 undescribed species of diplostomes were found in northern gannet, Morus bassanus. Bursatintinnabulus n. gen. (Diplostomidae) is established with reassignment of Bursacetabulus macrobursus Dronen et al., 1999, as type species, and the second species in the proposed genus is described, Bursatintinnabulus bassanus n. sp. Generic diagnosis of Bursacetabulus Dronen et al., 1999, is emended to include a conical hindbody, an inconspicuous pouchlike or conspicuous well-developed tribocytic organ, and digitiform vitellaria distributed mainly in the hindbody with processes extending into the tribocytic organ and ventrolaterally in the hindbody to the level of the testes. Bursacetabulus morus n. sp. is described as the second species in that genus. In Diplostominae, Bursacetabulus and Bursatintinnabulus n. gen. are most similar to Tylodelphys Diesing 1850, but can be distinguished by having smooth testes and vitellaria that extend ventrolaterally into the hindbody to the level of the posterior testis; and the absence of a genital cone, an acetabulum, and a prepharynx. Bursatintinnabulus n. gen. is different from Bursacetabulus and all other genera of Diplostominae by a well-developed, bell-like skirt surrounding the bursa.